Late son’s art sold in mum’s memory

THE paintings of an artist who tragically died in a car accident have been put on sale to raise money for charity.

Ian Booth and his brother Peter have set up an art exhibition showcasing paintings created by Ian’s son Darren, who died in 2004.

And funds from the event, which will see 16 artworks go under the hammer, will be donated to the Motor Neurone Society, which tragically took Darren’s mother Katherine last year – leaving Ian without a wife or son.

“My brother was devastated,” said Peter.

“One of the reasons I suggested we do this exhibition was to take his mind off it, and to raise money and awareness of Motor Neurone Disease, which doesn’t get as much attention as it should do.

“Unfortunately losing his wife and son just destroyed Ian.”

The artwork will go on display this Wednesday at Thame Leisure Centre with the exhibition set to be launched by the town mayor at 2.30pm.

A sealed ballot will be opened for the work, with a £40 starting price for each one. The aim is to raise more than £1,000 for the fund.

Darren, formerly a student at Lord Williams’s School, was a fully-trained dentist who had held many different jobs, including owning a restaurant for a while, before becoming a professional artist.

“My son died at the age of 37 in a car accident as he was on his way out of Oxford one night,” said Ian.

“Darren was an only child, and he was a happy-go-lucky sort of chap.

“Katherine was a very quiet, unassuming kind of person.

“She was broken-hearted over the death of her only child, it changed her life completely.

“She certainly had to suffer in the final years of her life.

“To me she was so brave, to also be faced with a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease, which is basically a death sentence.

“There’s no treatment they can give for the disease, nothing. And it’s on the rise.”

To take part in the closed bid auction and get the chance of purchasing one of Darren’s paintings, collect an envelope and bid form from the reception at Thame Leisure Centre.